Gas tank straps '62
09-15-2018, 04:36 PM
#1
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Gas tank straps '62
Has anyone replaced the gas tank straps on a '62? What does this entail? I wiggled the stay underneath and it fell off in my hand, rusted through.
09-15-2018, 04:47 PM
#2
Instructor
I've done it with my car. Had to take the tank out to get years of nasty gas and "stuff" boiled out of it.
There are threads on replacing straps that you can find using the forum search feature. The straps are a big PITA. Your experience with having the bolts rusted is typical. The new straps had to be bent to get them even close to fitting. I used all thread with nuts and washers to pull them into place the rest of the way and then replaced the bolts one at a time. That's what worked for me.
Its one of those jobs that required me to just take my time and several "step away and take a walk" before coming back to it. But it got done. Good luck
There are threads on replacing straps that you can find using the forum search feature. The straps are a big PITA. Your experience with having the bolts rusted is typical. The new straps had to be bent to get them even close to fitting. I used all thread with nuts and washers to pull them into place the rest of the way and then replaced the bolts one at a time. That's what worked for me.
Its one of those jobs that required me to just take my time and several "step away and take a walk" before coming back to it. But it got done. Good luck
09-15-2018, 05:20 PM
#3
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Thread Starter
I've done it with my car. Had to take the tank out to get years of nasty gas and "stuff" boiled out of it.
There are threads on replacing straps that you can find using the forum search feature. The straps are a big PITA. Your experience with having the bolts rusted is typical. The new straps had to be bent to get them even close to fitting. I used all thread with nuts and washers to pull them into place the rest of the way and then replaced the bolts one at a time. That's what worked for me.
Its one of those jobs that required me to just take my time and several "step away and take a walk" before coming back to it. But it got done. Good luck
There are threads on replacing straps that you can find using the forum search feature. The straps are a big PITA. Your experience with having the bolts rusted is typical. The new straps had to be bent to get them even close to fitting. I used all thread with nuts and washers to pull them into place the rest of the way and then replaced the bolts one at a time. That's what worked for me.
Its one of those jobs that required me to just take my time and several "step away and take a walk" before coming back to it. But it got done. Good luck
09-15-2018, 05:42 PM
#4
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Thread Starter
I would look now but it's at the shop getting a new starter motor put on. The mounting bracket vibrated loose on the first starter (just replaced thursday) and broke the mounting plate. I found the rusty strap while it was on the lift. I decided to have a clutch kit put on it too as long as they had it up. I can't pick it up until Monday and was just wondering about the new (never ending ) problem with the straps.
09-15-2018, 06:08 PM
#5
Instructor
The tank cover comes out after removing the screws around the circumference. You definitely need to remove the cover. Once the straps are removed, and after removing the fuel line and wires to the sender, the tank can be lifted out of the car if need be.
I had to remove the tank for reasons other than the straps. Not sure if you need to do so to just replace straps but the front of the straps need to be fed down and hooked onto the fitting on the car. It's probably easier to do that with the tank out. Someone else will likely add to this.
The fuel senders on these cars is another issue. I replaced mine with a new one and it still doesn't work. I called Southern Car Parts and they indicated they would replace the sender but it never happened. If yours is just "bouncy" you' re ahead of the game.
I had to remove the tank for reasons other than the straps. Not sure if you need to do so to just replace straps but the front of the straps need to be fed down and hooked onto the fitting on the car. It's probably easier to do that with the tank out. Someone else will likely add to this.
The fuel senders on these cars is another issue. I replaced mine with a new one and it still doesn't work. I called Southern Car Parts and they indicated they would replace the sender but it never happened. If yours is just "bouncy" you' re ahead of the game.
09-15-2018, 06:41 PM
#6
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Don't know if it will help, but when I was looking through a wiring harness pdf the other day, the author showed a ground strap going from one of the sender mounting bolts to the frame for a non working or poorly grounded fuel sender
09-15-2018, 06:50 PM
#7
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Thread Starter
The tank cover comes out after removing the screws around the circumference. You definitely need to remove the cover. Once the straps are removed, and after removing the fuel line and wires to the sender, the tank can be lifted out of the car if need be.
I had to remove the tank for reasons other than the straps. Not sure if you need to do so to just replace straps but the front of the straps need to be fed down and hooked onto the fitting on the car. It's probably easier to do that with the tank out. Someone else will likely add to this.
The fuel senders on these cars is another issue. I replaced mine with a new one and it still doesn't work. I called Southern Car Parts and they indicated they would replace the sender but it never happened. If yours is just "bouncy" you' re ahead of the game.
I had to remove the tank for reasons other than the straps. Not sure if you need to do so to just replace straps but the front of the straps need to be fed down and hooked onto the fitting on the car. It's probably easier to do that with the tank out. Someone else will likely add to this.
The fuel senders on these cars is another issue. I replaced mine with a new one and it still doesn't work. I called Southern Car Parts and they indicated they would replace the sender but it never happened. If yours is just "bouncy" you' re ahead of the game.
09-15-2018, 11:14 PM
#8
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I used a canvas strap tie down instead of the steel strap and like it better. Doesn’t rust, chafe, make noise, and will last practically forever.
09-16-2018, 11:05 AM
#9
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09-16-2018, 11:09 AM
#10
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09-16-2018, 11:18 AM
#11
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I bought new straps when I replaced my tank. However, other than a few rusty places, the originals were in pretty good condition.
The mounts (as you point out) were a different story. They needed replacement.
It was so difficult to get the new straps to "take the shape" that I ended up wire-brushing, painting, and re-using my original straps.
I sent the new straps back for a refund!
The mounts (as you point out) were a different story. They needed replacement.
It was so difficult to get the new straps to "take the shape" that I ended up wire-brushing, painting, and re-using my original straps.
I sent the new straps back for a refund!
Last edited by SDVette; 09-16-2018 at 11:18 AM.
09-16-2018, 01:07 PM
#12
Instructor
I bought new straps when I replaced my tank. However, other than a few rusty places, the originals were in pretty good condition.
The mounts (as you point out) were a different story. They needed replacement.
It was so difficult to get the new straps to "take the shape" that I ended up wire-brushing, painting, and re-using my original straps.
I sent the new straps back for a refund!
The mounts (as you point out) were a different story. They needed replacement.
It was so difficult to get the new straps to "take the shape" that I ended up wire-brushing, painting, and re-using my original straps.
I sent the new straps back for a refund!
09-16-2018, 05:15 PM
#13
Team Owner
09-16-2018, 10:31 PM
#14
Instructor
If your going to go to all the trouble of replacing the straps you should at least also replace the vent hose, the hose connecting the fuel line and fuel sensor, and possibly the filler hose. Redo any electric connections to the fuel sensor, redo the ground and I added another ground connected to a second part of the frame. If your tank is cruddy you may want to consider that also. My tank was the original one and I found a couple of rust spots that caused concern with gas leaks. If your strap connectors or straps are coming apart due to rust you should consider replacing the tank as well. Yep expensive and as noted a pain in the rear but once its done you know its taken care of. Just sayin. Good luck.
Claude
Claude
09-18-2018, 10:13 AM
#15
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My .02. I used longer bolts to get the straps formed then removed the long bolts and replaced them with the correct ones. By long I meant around 3-4 inch bolts (cannot remember such a long time ago).